William Shakespeare's As You Like It (c. 1599) perhaps predominates the structure of Out of Sight. Two very distinct people are isolated from daily life and thus are allowed to devote themselves to romance. The idyllic Forest of Arden becomes the postmodern Westin hotel in Detroit during a blizzard. Romance for Leonard, as for Shakespeare, is kept separate and distinct from "real life"— everyday routine. A romantic interlude for Karen Sisco and Jack Foley much resembles the romantic interlude between Rosalind and Orlando. Like Rosalind, Karen Sisco is the more responsible one of the two. She sees more clearly; she knows her duty and she will follow it.

Like Orlando, Foley is too much the romantic, often foolish in life choices.

That the Federal marshal and the bank robber could meet is a possibility; their lives do cross paths. But "cops and robbers" are by definition...